Get of your high horse mate. This isn't about you. All sorts of people have experienced shit happen to them they just don't smear it on other peoples faces or use it to define who they are or how they view the world.
Umm. Ok. At no point did I make this about me. But as we are bringing the personal element into the discussion, EVERYONE'S experience and background will inevitably influence their perception of the world, including the two individuals we are discussing. Maajid Nawaz, whose autobiography I've read and whose positions I often find myself in agreement with, has had his particular (current) world view shaped by his own unique experiences, as has Talib.
I understand why Maajid is frustrated with Talib "splainin" things to him that he has actually lived. I also understand why Talib, a black man in a country that has a centuries long history of actual, institutionalised, and overt racism, would be put off by someone like Sam Harris who masquerades as an expert on issues he has no experience with, pontificating about with views not too different from those of right-wing neocons.
There is no one who can develop a world view in a vacuum, free from any outside influence or bias.
What often frustrates me about discussing things with you specifically, Jedi, is the impression I get from your posts that you are quick to dismiss the personal insights of individuals who have had experiences that differ from the opinions you've formed - however you may have formed them.
Not only that, you also come across to me as unnecessarily rude, condescending, and snide, particularly (and strangely) when discussing matters of race relations and minority issues that don't conform to the positions you've formed.
We can, of course, take that last portion elsewhere so as not to derail the thread, but I'm curious as to how well one can form opinions in the real world, and how valuable those opinions could be, if they are not influenced at least in part by one's own experiences.
Topic: Maajid Nawaz vs Talib Kweli